Rail-joint.



A. S. MOORE.

RAIL mm APPLI'CATIQN FILED APR. 12, I916.

Patented June 27, 1916.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I- E m 0 a'vwewboz A. S. MOORE- 'RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION men APR. 12, 1916.

' Patented June 27, 1916. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' ATLAS-S. MOORE, or MACON, GEORGIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate ted J 27 1916 Application filed April12, 1916. Serial No. 90,745.

'of the rail possess a maximum of vertical strength together with a maximum of lateral strength.

Furthermore it .is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved rail joint wherein the nuts coacting with the bolts employed in the joint are effectively held against retrograde movement.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved rail joint whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more conven ent and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in top plan illustrating a rail joint constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional View taken through the joint as herein embodied; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of my improved joint as herein disclosed; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4; of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially. on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail longitudinal sectional view taken through an end portion of the elongated suspension bar as herein included.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 11 denote the meeting ends of rails having their inner faces braced by the plate the flanges an 2 of predetermined length and having its lower marginal (portion snugly engaging its upper marginal port tion snugly underlying the'heads 4: of the rails. The plate 2. is convexo-concave with its concave side adjacent the webs 5 of the rails. The end portions of the plate 2 have their inner faces flat. The convexity of the plate 2 results in the same possessing greater strength, while the flat or plain surface end portions'of the plate are flexible for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. I

The opposite ends of the plate 2 and the intermediate portion thereof are provided with the openings 6 adapted to register with the openings 7 produced in the webs 5, the intermediate openings 6 of the plate 2 being arranged in close proximity to the ends of the rails 11 when the plate is in applied position. It is also to be observed that the openings 6 in the plate 2 are anguthe openings 11 through which the bolts 9,

hereinbefore referred to, are adapted to be directed. The upper marginal portion .of

the plate 10 is-provided with the outwardly and laterally disposed flange 12 preferably arranged at right angles to the top of the rails whereby it will be perceived that the meeting ends of the rails are effectively reinforced against lateral pressure to reduce to a minimum the spreading of the meeting ends of the rails.

' The lower marginal portion of the plate 10 is also provided with an outstanding lateral flange 14 and between said flanges 12 and 14 is adapted to be positioned the tensioning bar 15 of a length substantially equal to the length of the plate 10, and said bar 15 is provided with the openings '16 through which the bolts 9 are also adapted to be directed, said bar 15 serving to further strengthen the joint both vertically and laterally. It is to be observed that the inner face, of the tensioning bar 15 is convexed longitudinally for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Coacting with the free extremities of the bolt's 9 are the nuts or burs 17. The end portions of the tensioning bar 15 surrounding the openings 16 therein at the ends thereof are depressed, as indicated at 18,

afiording'the shoulders 19 which effectively coact with the nuts or burs 17 to hold the same against retrograde movement. It will be self-evident that the convexity of the plate 2 and tensioning bar 15 afford suffici'ent yield to permit the requisite 'application of the nuts 17, yet at the same time maintainthe requisite tension to hold the shoulders 19 in operative engagement'with the nuts 17.

The intermediate bolts 9 are disposed through the openings 20 produced in the end portions of the short tension bar 21, said bar 21 being arcuate longitudinally, whereby the locking shoulders 22 produced therein will properly coact with the adjacent nuts or burs 17. The shoulders 22 are produced in the same manner as has been set forth relative to the shoulders 19.

It is not essential that the tensioning bar 15 be employed at all times, but the use of the bar 15 is particularly desirable at curves. It is to be observed that the outer faces of the portions of the plate '10 surrounding the end openings 11 are depressed to afiord the shoulders 23 for a purpose which has been fully set forth relative to the shoulders 19 and 22. With the tensioning bar 15 omitted, the short tensioning bar 21 contacts directly with the plate 10.,

From the foregoing description, it is.

thought to be obvious that a rail" joint constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, andit will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification withoutmaterial departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason it do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in prac-' tice.

It is to be noted that the depressions 18 are slightly concave so that thecorners of the nuts or burs will come more directly in contact with the surface of the depression, and it will be further noted that by the use of two shoulders 19, the nut is held at right angles to the axis of the bolt which thereby prevents the bolt being sprung or bent as would otherwise occur under great tension if there were only one shoulder.

ll claim:

1. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, plates disposed at opposite sides of said meeting ends, one of said plates being convexed longitudinally, securing bolts dis- .posed through the plates and rails, and a tensioning bar curved longitudinally coacting with certain of the bolts and positioned at one side of the second plate.

2. In combination with the meeting ends of rails, plates disposed at opposite sides of said meeting ends, one of said plates being conVeXed longitudinally, securing bolts disposed through the plates and rails, a tensioning bar curved longitudinally coacting With certain ofthe bolts andv positioned at one side of the second plate, said tensioning bar being provided with stops, and nuts engageable with the bolts passing through the tensioning bar with which the stops coact for holding the nuts against retrograde movement.

3. ln combination with the meeting ends of rails, plates disposed at opposite sides of vsaid-meeting ends, oneof said plates being .convexed longltudlnally, securing bolts disposed through the plates and rails, a tensionlng bar curved longitudinally coa-cting with certain of the bolts and positioned at one side of the second plate, and a second tensloning bar interposed between the first named tensloning bar and the second plate,

said second tensioning bar having its inner face consexed longitudinally, said bolts also passing through said second tensioning bar 4. ln combination with the meeting ends of rails, plates disposed at opposite sides of said meeting ends, one of said plates being convexedlongitudinally, securing bolts di posed through the plates and rails, a ten sioning bar curved longitudinally coacting with certain of the bolts and positioned one side of the second plate, a second ten sioning bar interposed between the named tensioning bar and the second plate,

said second tensioning bar having its inner faceconveried longitudinally, said bolts also passing through sald second tensioning bar,

said last named tensioning bar being pro- 1 'l'n testimony whereof I hereunto affix signatuie in the presence of two witnesses,

ATLAS S. MUORE.

WitnJsses:

line GREENE, G, D Penny 

